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    CF-30 Mk2...using GPS onboard Gobi module?

    Discussion in 'Panasonic' started by Dirty_water, Jan 22, 2012.

  1. Dirty_water

    Dirty_water Newbie

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    Hello!

    I just got a refurbished CF-30 that I ordered from Overstock. I decided to get a Toughbook after I've had a less than stellar experience with other laptops - the laptop I am currently using is a Toshiba Satellite M105 that had the motherboard replaced four or five times within a two month period to fix a couple of issues. Fortunately it was under warranty, but I have now cracked the case in a few places and the clock will randomly freeze, and I decided to replace it before it leaves me stranded without a computer.

    At any rate, I've been tinkering around with my new CF-30 Mk2 and due to a BIOS password, I can't enable the Gobi 1000 module that I am assuming is on board. I sent an email to Metro PC (who refurbished the laptops and sold them to Overstock complete with a BIOS password) but have yet to hear back from them. Overstock is sending me a replacement unit for other reasons (CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive rather than the advertised DVD-RW drive), so hopefully I won't have the same issue with the replacement that they are sending me.

    At any rate, has anyone been successful in using the GPS on the onboard Gobi module? I know Panasonic admits that there is a GPS chipset onboard but that it is not enabled, and I saw an article ( Netbook To Chartplotter Project: Enabling GPS On The UNDP-1 Gobi 1000 Module) that talks about enabled the GPS on an Acer notebook, so I _think_ it is feasible but I can't play around with it until I can get the Gobi card to work.

    If I can't get the GPS onboard the Gobi module to work, how successful have people been with the GPS kits available from custom-toughbooks.com ( CF-30 : Custom Toughbooks, -Aftermarket solutions for Panasonic Toughbooks - which doesn't really tell me the differences between the 3 kits they sell) vs. basically adding on the Panasonic GPS parts and putting the antenna on the top right corner of the lid?

    Thanks in advance, and I'm open to hearing any suggestions as well - I'm really hoping for a reliable onboard GPS solution while spending the least amount of money possible.
     
    Dirty_water, Jan 22, 2012
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  2. gray-beard

    gray-beard Notebook Evangelist

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    A much better solution for GPS (this is the one I use in my CF-30) is here:

    Genuine/Original Toughbook CF-30 CF30 Mark 1&2 OEM GPS | eBay

    These are from Rob on this forum and he will treat you well..
    I am very happy with mine.
    Took me less then and hour to install, but I have been working on and in thoughbooks for years.

    Bob
     
    gray-beard, Jan 22, 2012
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